East Suffolk

East Suffolk's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, religion and work life.

The population reached nearly 240,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of East Suffolk increased by 5.3%, from just over 227,000 to 240,000.

The addition of just over 12,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Suffolk was home to, on average, 1.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older East Suffolk

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of East Suffolk increased by four years, from 42 to 46 years.

This coastal area had the third-highest average age in Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 9,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 6,000.

About 14% of people in East Suffolk are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Suffolk by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of East Suffolk residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 4.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.6%, while the percentage of East Suffolk residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in East Suffolk increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Suffolk, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in East Suffolk

The number of people in East Suffolk that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 36,000 in 2001 to just under 70,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 29% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in East Suffolk that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 170,000 in 2001 to just under 150,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 18,000 (7.5%)

Just over 1,000 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 630 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in East Suffolk increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Suffolk by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in East Suffolk working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in East Suffolk decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Suffolk, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in East Suffolk, but at a slower rate than in Norwich (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with East Suffolk).

In East Suffolk, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Norwich increased from 13% to 22%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in East Suffolk remained close to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 71%.

Private renting in East Suffolk increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Suffolk, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in East Suffolk

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Norwich.

In East Suffolk, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 26% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Norwich increased from 40% to 47%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in East Suffolk fell from 57% to 53%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of East Suffolk residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 5.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of East Suffolk residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in East Suffolk decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Suffolk, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in East Suffolk, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% to 9.6% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 30%, while the percentage of households in East Suffolk which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 38% to 35%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in East Suffolk with children decreased from 27% to 26% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (66%) households had no children, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of households in East Suffolk with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.2% to 8.6%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in East Suffolk

The number of people in East Suffolk from the White ethnic groups increased from about 220,000 in 2001 to about 230,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in East Suffolk from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 1,200 in 2001 to about 3,000 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.3%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 1,400 to about 2,700 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

Just under 930 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 520 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in East Suffolk decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Suffolk by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of East Suffolk residents that were unemployed increased from 3.0% to 3.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of East Suffolk residents that were self-employed increased from 9.3% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of East Suffolk residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in East Suffolk remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Suffolk by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links